On an absolutely filthy afternoon, the players of Heaton Stannington and Ryton & Crawcrook Albion served up dull fare, as leaden as the slate grey skies from whence an incessant downpour of wintery rain drenched the players, rendering a heavy pitch almost sodden.

Following the frenzied media fallout from the previous week’s game against Birtley Town, it was a relief both to see the injured Paul Blakey in attendance and in good spirits and to return to an element of normality, with the 300 plus groundhoppers from the previous weekend entertaining themselves elsewhere in the football pyramid, meaning today’s attendance was 71, including several late arrivals who’d arrived from St. James’ Park in good spirits following Newcastle’s surprise win over Chelsea.

The Stan gave a long awaited debut to former Ryton player Dan Iredale, who made an impressive showing, collected a yellow card for a late trip and played an important part in the opening goal. The home team took the lead, though not the game by the scruff of its neck, on 8 minutes. Iredale provided Jonathan Wright with a clever pass, allowing the Stan hitman to power away down an unfamiliar outside right channel, before sending in a cross that flashed across the six yard box. Phil Smith retrieved it and set up Lee Johnson who swept the ball home with his instep to suggest that the game would be a routine home win in this top versus bottom clash.

However, whether it was because of the conditions and the state of the pitch, whether it was on account of a degree of complacency slipping into The Stan’s performance or whether it was because Ryton simply never gave up, that was not the case. Obviously there were many instances when The Stan could and indeed should have extended their lead, none more so than after 33 minutes when Wright again turned provider, with an inviting ball for Johnson, who could only tap the ball wide of the target on this occasion.

As the game drew on through the second half, it seemed clear that although The Stan were unable to hit the heights that they were accustomed to, or indeed to put this troublesome game to bed, they would have just enough to get past an obdurate, resilient Ryton outfit.

With the clock running down, there was a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Lee Johnson. Once fit again, The Stan player went on a mazy run to the edge of the Ryton box, where he was fouled. Wright stepped up and fired the free kick a shade wide and it seemed as if that was that. However, there was a sting in the tail, when Ryton came forward in one last desperate effort to salvage something from the game. Shaun Backhouse was forced into a save and the ball squirmed out to the edge of the area where, after a couple of slips and an attempted block, Paul Basey was able to drive the ball home at the second attempt to snatch a point for the visitors. Thus The Stan drew a league game for the first time since away to Norton on the opening day of the season back on August 10th.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Yellow Cards: Iredale.

Goals: Lee Johnson 8

Attendance: 71